Legislative Updates
Overview
Child care and early learning has enjoyed strong bipartisan support amongst lawmakers for decades.
First Five Years Fund works closely with lawmakers from across the aisle to provide regular updates on early learning and care opportunities in Congress.
Check out our full legislative tracker here and bipartisan proposals here.
Top
Resources
STATE OF PLAY: Federal Shutdown and Child Care/Early Learning Programs
The federal government shut down last night, with Congress unable to come to agreement over either the FY26 appropriations funding bill or a Continuing Resolution. While there are many unknowns …
118th and 119th Congress: Bipartisan Child Care Legislation in the House and Senate
Reliable, affordable child care is essential for hardworking families, especially as two-thirds of all children under the age of five need care because all available parents are working. Yet, high …
First Five Things To Know About: The Child Care Modernization Act
Parents want child care options that meet their family’s unique needs and support their child’s healthy development. Yet today, far too many working families struggle to find and afford the …
latest
updates
STATEMENT: FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling on House Markup of FY26 Funding Levels for Child Care and Early Learning Programs
On September 2, 2025 the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY2026 funding bill, including federal funding for child care and …
STATEMENT: FFYF Executive Director Sarah Rittling on Senate Markup of FY26 Funding Levels for Child Care and Early Learning Programs
WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a markup of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act to establish proposed funding levels for child care and …
FFYF’s Sarah Rittling on Child Care Tax Enhancements in the Final Reconciliation Package
Final passage of the 2025 reconciliation bill contains updates to tax credits which will help make child care more affordable for more working families with young children including: The following …
